India sends all-women team for UN peacekeeping missions in Sudan

India sends all-women team for UN peacekeeping missions in Sudan

Subject :International relations

Context: India is deploying an all-women contingent in Sudan’s Abeyi region as part of its peacekeeping missions under the aegis of the United Nations. It will be India’s largest single unit of female soldiers in a UN mission since 2007. The Army team comprises two officers and 25 other ranks

United Nation Peacekeeping Mission:

• United Nations Peacekeeping was created in 1948.
• U.N. Peacekeeping mission is a joint effort between the Department of Peace Operations and the Department of Operational Support, and aims to assist host countries to transition from situations of conflict to peace.
• It provides security, political, and peace building support to countries under conflicts. It helps countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace.
• They are guided by three basic principles:
  • Consent of the parties
  • Impartiality
  • Non-use of force except in self-defense and defense of the mandate.
• Every peacekeeping mission is authorized by the UN Security Council.
• Member states contribute their manpower for Peacekeeping forces on a voluntary basis.
• The financial resources of UN Peacekeeping operations are the collective responsibility of UN Member States. Every Member State is legally obligated to pay their respective share for peacekeeping.
• Responsibilities of U.N. military personnel
  • Protecting civilians and other U.N. personnel
  • Monitoring disputed borders
  • Observing peace processes in post-conflict areas
  • Providing security in conflict zones
  • Providing security during elections
  • Assisting in-country military personnel with training and support
  • Assisting ex-combatants in implementing the peace agreements
• The UN Peacekeeping Force won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1988.
• They are often referred to as Blue Berets or Blue Helmets because of their light blue berets or helmets
  • Qualified military officers from U.N. member states are recruited to serve as individual staff officers, military observers, or as part of units from an individual troop-contributing country, by the United Nations Office of Military Affairs.

India’s Contribution to UN Peacekeeping Mission:

• Over 200,000 Indians have served in 49 U.N. Peacekeeping missions since 1948. Currently, 5,581 Indians are part of various U.N. Peacekeeping missions.
• In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an all-women contingent to a U.N. Peacekeeping mission.
• As of October 31, 2022, India is the second largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions with 5887 troops and personnel deployed across 12 missions, after Bangladesh (7,017).